Light in Torment: An Annora Park Novel: Book Three

Chapter Thirteen: Skinned Silence

I'm watching Silence of the Lambs with my crew and watching their faces as I do so.  Walker is all but bouncing in his seat and Terrenel looks disturbed beyond measure.  Chamuel has no expression on his handsome face whatsoever (not sure what to make of that) and I bite my lip and chew on them.  The movie is phenomenal, the actors extraordinary, but the story line...yeah, disturbing is too tame of a word for the storyline.  However, watching the movie was a necessity, considering what we were faced with right now.
   "This film is..." Terrenel winces.
   "Aweee come on, don't tell me you can't take a little blood and gore." Walker says, twirling his knife in his hand.
   "It is not the blood or the gore that bothers me."
   I nod.  I kinda get it.  I'm not bothered by the blood and guts either.  But like I said before, the storyline, it really is disturbing.
   "You thinks this is what the Shasharra is doing?" Terrenel finally asks.
   I sigh deeply and nod my head.  "I really wish I didn't, but yeah, I think this is what the Shasharra is up to.  I believe like Buffalo Bill he's making a suit, just not a human suit."
   "The wings if they even can be stolen wouldn't last long.  They fade quickly once the light is gone from their bearers."
   I nod again.  "Again, I think that is why we're seeing so many so quickly.  He can't sustain the wings for long.  He needs more bodies."
   "That is sick, truly sick, my love." Terrenel says.
   "I can think of another word for it," I mutter.
   "I don't think I need to watch anymore of this," Terrenel turns away from the movie.
   "NO, we need to watch the entire thing," Walker says eagerly.  "You'll miss all the best parts."
   "I believe I've seen the parts I need to see."
   "No, the ending is really epic."
   "Do the 'good guys' win?" Terrenel asks dryly.
   Walker cocks his head to the side.  "In a manner of speaking."
   "Whatever does that mean?"
   "Exactly what I said.  It has a truly epic ending.  And come on, you can't miss Anthony Hopkins."
   "Walker, if Terrenel is done watching the movie I think he's done watching the movie."
   "Well I'm watching it to the end."
   "Come my Queen," Terrenel holds his hand out to me.  "Can we speak in my bedchamber?"  I see Walker and Chamuel give us a 'look' and I ignore it. 
   "Okay." I take his hand and then turn back to my guys.  "You okay watching the rest of the film here?"
   Walker laughs.  "Oh yeah, better than fine, dearheart."
   "Chamuel?" I ask.
   "I may return to the Host.  I have things to ask the Graces."
   "Okay.  Then I'll see you later?"
   Chamuel gets up and places a kiss on my forehead.  "Yes, my amour, I will see you soon.  I promised, and I meant it, I will never be far from your side, and I will always return to you."
   "Walker, please no bloodletting while we're talking."
   "But..."
   "NO!" I say.  "Restrain yourself, okay, or no more watching movies like this for you."
   "Spoilsport."
   I roll my eyes.  "Psycho."
   "Takes one to know one," is he reply.  And on that note I allow Terrenel to lead me out of the room.

   "I cannot even imagine..." Terrenel looks heartbroken, and I wrap my arms around him and hold him close.  "The light Fae, we do not do such unspeakable things, we are a race that—"
   "And you see that's where you're shortsighted, Terrenel.  You think with blinders on.  You're so certain that nothing in the Light Fae Court or beyond could be 'dark' or awful, and so you lose sight that every race, every people, have their, well 'bad apples,' so to speak."
   "Bad apples?"
   "Bad people, evil people, people that will do heinous things.  Not everyone is good, just like not everyone is bad, there is always gray.  And you have lived in the light so long that you see only the good, the bright, the brilliance of your court.  You cannot imagine that evil would lurk.  But it happens."
   "The Dark Fae Court."
   I roll my eyes.  "Please don't go there.  I mean seriously? Yes, I know the Dark Fae Court is more prone to violence and bloodshed and they house a host of terrible beings.  But the thing is those terrible beings aren't even that terrible.  It's their nature, their way, their way of doing things, just like you do things a certain way, so do they.  But look, not everyone in the Dark Fae Court is bad, Desharra isn't bad.  And I'm certain there are other's that aren't bad and evil too.  Why can't you see that just because you are the King of the Light Fae Court, it doesn't exclude you from forms of evil that lurk here."
   "Because we have existed peacefully for...for..."
   "A looooong looooong time, I get it.  But you cannot 'police' everyone, and there will be some of your people who do bad things.  Now that we've got a lead we can track this Shasharra down and hopefully get a better read on him."
   "They are hard to track, my love.  They are brilliant blinding light and very rarely take corporal form."
   "But if he wants wings, he would have to take on a corporal form, correct?"
   "Yes.  He would have to become solid and take on a corporal form to wear...wear...the stolen wings."
   "And I'm guessing that is when he get him?"
   "Yes.  You cannot kill him as a beam of blinding light.  There is nothing to kill.  He must be in his corporal form for you to kill him."
   "I will get him, Terrenel."
   Terrenel kisses my lips gently and nods.  "I know you will.  You are capable of anything, everything."
   I snort.  "Don't know about that.  But I damn well try."
   Terrenel kisses me again.  This time deeper and I moan as I feel his tongue enter my mouth.  The kiss is carnal and desperate, the kiss of one marking and claiming territory.  I feel his hand delve into the bodice of my dress and grab my breast and I pant.
   "Terrenel, no, we can't," I moan.
   "My love, please, I need you."
   "Walker is watching a movie down the freaking hall, and well you and I still have 'issues' to deal with."
   "This would help with those issues."
   I pull away.  "Sex, Gah, all men think with their little heads."
   Terrenel smirks.  "My head is not little.  Need I remind you of that fact?"
   "No, no.  I need to get back to Earth and start tracking the Shasharra especially not that I have a good lead."
   "Will you promise me that we will finish this soon, then?"
   I chew on my lower lip and think for a long minute.  "I promise I'll think about it."
   Terrenel sighs.  "Soooo stubborn, my queen. So very stubborn."
   "That's my middle name."
   "No your middle name is..."
   "Again, stop taking things so literal.  It was just a joke.  Listen I need to retrieve Walker and then we need to get back to Earth, okay.  I will contact you the moment I know anything more about what is going on, okay?"
   "All my my love.  All right."